Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-10-29
BURNED.
The Freight Depot of the
Santa Fe R. r.
THE LOSS ABOUT S15O,OOO.
Many Cars Burned.-Oils and
Paints DestrOyed.-The Pa
s pers Gone.

The ringing of the fire bell and tn
blowing Of the Electric Works whistl
at h,f-past six o'clock last evenin
announced the commencement OF on
of the most disastrous confagration
that has ever visited this city. Th
burning of the freight depot Of th,
Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe Depo
at the foot of Third street was yer,
serious affair, as the blowing of th,
Electic Light Work. whistle indicated
but from the start of it was eviden
that there was was no helpfor it. The
depot &'as doomed.
So far as could be ascertained the
fire originated in an oil cal
which had been hauled along
side the Fourth street end of the
depot. This in conjunction with sew.
eral others was being unloaded, and
at the time the fire started three men
were engaged in carrying out the
cases of oil. In order to see, one OF
the men placed his lantern on the
floor and in some unaccountable man.
ner this WAS upset aud before the men
realized the situation the whole inte-
rior of the car was in a blaze and the
flames were bursting out of the sides.
The depot having been constructed OF
wood, which 1T this time OF the year
is very dry and infammable. caught
fire before an alarm could be given or
the car could be hauled out OF the
way. The switch engine was some
distance. away and before it could
reach the spot the whole lower end
Of the depot was in flames as well as
the adjoining cars, also containing
very inflammable materials.
THE ALARM TURNED IN.
II was at this time that the alarm
was turned in, ami before the whistle
had finished, the heavens were illu-
and fully two-thirds of the
p ople on the streets we're fastening
to the scene of the fire. The Fire De-
p<rtment turned out quickly and en-
gines were on the ground very shortly
after the alarm had been given.
These were powerless however, since
there were no hydrants within reach
ing distance, and the only water to he
obtained was in Bigelow's Zanja
some di stance away. The ho,e
was stretched from this and
in a very few minutes the first water
was put on the flames. By this time
the entire structure was in flames,
and that portion which had caught
ire first was nothing but n mass of
glowing embers.
IA DESPERATE LEAP.
Just as the first engine, drew up at
,he zanja, an operator named Ward,
IN the second story of the office por-
Jon of the building, attempted to
cave by the stairway, but SO quickly
lad the flames spread that he found
nc was cut off and that the only way
70 escape was by means OF the win
dow. Running to this, he threw it
open and leaped, falling into the out
stretched arms Of F. B.
IIuffer, of the California Trans
Ter Company. This broke
nis fall. but did not entirely save him,
:or his left ankle vas broken and he
was conveyed home in hack.
At 7 o'clock the heat was intense
md the firemen were obliged to re-
ire to a considerable distance from
,he flames and devote their energies
o the freight cars which had caught
ire although hundred feet away.
q THE CARS CATCH FIRE. -,
The switch engine was doing all in
is power to remove the cars from the
Of the fire, but the tracks
we're in a very crowded condition and
'lames were SO hot that some
If the Cars had to he left
% their mercies. Car after Car
:aught fire and was hauled away to
,ome other portion of the yard, but
here were some OF the box-cars which
lad to be left where they we're before
the fire started. These were burned
entirely. Four cars loaded with
paints and oils were on the switch
nearest tile depot and there was no hope
'or these from the start. Their con-
ents only added to the heat and made
It the more dangerous for the switch
engine to operate. The overland
rain which was to have gone out this
morning was standing on the track
close by, aud its six coaches and two
pullman cars were badly scorched
and charred on the outside. Fourteen
freight cars on another track op-
posite the depot were all badly
burned and the San Diego train WAS
scorched. Besides these there were
nearly twenty cars, which were more
Or less injured before they could be
taken out of danger.
THE BOOKS AND PAPERS.
Officer Lemon and Assistant Engin-
ser Moriartv succeeded in carrying
out large quantity OF way bills and
two desks, but beyond these all the
books and papers in relation to the
freight here. in store, and on the way
were destroyed. This will make it al
most impossible for the company to
tell lust how much the losses were
but they are placed all the way from
SlOO, 600 to 5000, 900. The claim agent
stated last night that the freight alone
would amount to 500 600. Besides this
the building cost $32 900, and other
destroyed, $4,000. The
damage to the cars foots up pretty
and safe figure is $3.50, 900.
1t is not known just how much freight
there was int depot, but there was
q good deal stored there earlier in
the day, and more had
been added before nightfall.
SCENES AND INCIDENTS.
Fully fifteen thousand people visit
ed the fire, and Santa Fe avenue from
First street to the depot was densely
packed with human beings. Besides
these, there were myriads on cars and
in other parts Of the yard. They kept
out Of the way of the firemen, not 80
much because OF the ropes, as on ac-
count of the heat.
The only accident outside OF that to
Mr.. Ward was the injury to Sam